THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 77/391/EEC of 17 May 1977 introducing Community measures for the eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leukosis in cattle, and in particular Article 13 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas when laying down, in Directive 77/391/EEC, the basic principles for Community intervention for the eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leukosis, the Council decided to establish subsequently the minimum criteria which the national plans for the eradication of the abovementioned diseases should satisfy in order to qualify for a financial contribution by the Community;
Whereas the first of these criteria relates to the acceleration of national plans, so that the campaign undertaken to eradicate the diseases in question in the Member States in which herds are still infected may be carried to a successful conclusion as rapidly as possible; whereas to this end measures should be taken or strengthened, as far as possible simultaneously, concerning, in particular, checks on livestock, the functioning of laboratories and the compensation paid for cattle slaughtered under the eradication plans;
Whereas it is moreover necessary, depending on the diseases in question, to lay down the conditions in which slaughter, isolation, cleaning and disinfection should take place and the use which should be made of certain animal products;
Whereas it is also essential, in order to avoid the risk of reinfection, to practise strict control of movements of cattle, especially between herds of a different health status, and to make those movements conditional on certain tests;
Whereas the date on which Directive 77/391/EEC is to take effect should be fixed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: